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Willington conservation panel establishes Pedex Trail, declines VFW memorial tree and backs riparian buffer work
Summary
The Willington Conservation Commission voted May 20 to name and establish Burma Road from the Ruby Trail head as the official Pedex Sanctuary access (the "Pedex Trail"), declined a VFW request to plant a memorial tree at Fenton Ruby Park, and agreed to work toward creating a riparian buffer adjacent to the park.
The Willington Conservation Commission on May 20 voted to formalize trail access to the town-owned Pedex Sanctuary and took two other land-management decisions affecting Fenton Ruby Park.
The commission approved a motion to establish Burma Road from the Ruby Trail trailhead up to the Pedex property as the official Pedex property access and to name it the Pedex Trail. "I move that we establish Burma Road from the Ruby Trail trail head to the Pedex property as the official Pedex access trail," said Paul Priva, who made the motion; a second followed and the motion passed by voice vote. The commission discussed adding the new route to trail maps, blazing the corridor (members favored an orange blaze for visibility), GPSing the alignment and notifying the county 911 service for emergency reference.
Commissioners also addressed a request from the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post to plant a memorial tree in the picnic area at Fenton Ruby Park. Following a sitewalk and a review of site constraints including the proximity of two existing chestnuts, potential shading of a pollinator garden, riparian-buffer considerations and Public Worksmowing practicesthe commission voted to decline the VFWrequest to plant a memorial tree at the picnic area. Commissioners emphasized concern about setting a precedent for repeated memorial plantings in limited park space.
Separately, the panel voted to work toward establishing a riparian buffer along the lower picnic slope adjacent to the Fenton River. Members discussed a low-growing native-plant approach (meadow/low-shrub species), options for seed collection and volunteers to help establish plantings, and the need to stake or otherwise mark the buffer so contractors will not mow it. Chair members noted the idea could be framed within the town's MS4 stormwater plan to help secure cooperation from Public Works and potential partner funding from the Nachog watershed advisory board.
Votes and formal motions mentioned in the meeting record:
Votes at a glance - Motion to seat temporary member Ally: passed by voice vote (tally not specified in transcript). - Approval of April 15 minutes and sitewalk minutes (April 23 & 25): passed by voice vote (tally not specified in transcript). - Motion to decline VFW memorial-tree offer at Fenton Ruby Park: approved by voice vote (tally not specified in transcript). - Motion to establish Burma Road as the Pedex property access and name it the Pedex Trail: approved by voice vote (tally not specified in transcript). - Motion to work toward establishing a riparian buffer adjacent to the Fenton River picnic area: approved by voice vote (tally not specified in transcript).
What happens next Commission staff and volunteer stewards will update kiosk maps, GPS trailheads and coordinate blaze color choices; staff said they will notify Talon County 911 of the new Pedex access route. Work on a riparian buffer will proceed through additional site marking, coordination with Public Works and outreach to the Nachog watershed advisory board for possible plants and volunteers. No dollar amounts or implementation schedules were finalized during the meeting.
